Holy Communion

		Notes

		Notes 1 to 23 apply to Order One. They should be followed in Order Two insofar as they are applicable. Notes 24 to 29 apply to Order Two only.

		The use of a lighter typeface for some texts reflects a decision of the General Synod to give more weight to one choice within a range of options.

1		Posture
		Local custom may be followed and developed in relation to posture. The people should stand for the reading of the Gospel, for the Creed, for the Peace and for the Dismissal. Any changes in posture during the Eucharistic Prayer should not detract from the essential unity of that prayer. It is appropriate that, on occasions, the congregation should kneel for prayers of penitence.

2		Traditional Texts
		In addition to the places where they are printed in the service, traditional versions of texts may be used.

3		Hymns, Psalms, Canticles, the Collection and Presentation of the Offerings of the People, and the Preparation of the Table
		Points are indicated for these, but they may occur elsewhere.

4		Sentences
		Sentences of Scripture appropriate to the season and the place in the service may be used as part of the president's greeting, in the Invitation to Confession, at the Peace, before the gifts of the people are collected and after the distribution of communion (from Easter Day to Pentecost 'Alleluia' is appropriately added to such sentences).

5		Acclamations
		Acclamations, which may include congregational response (such as 'The Lord is here: his Spirit is with us' and 'Christ is risen: he is risen indeed') may be used at appropriate points in the service (with 'Alleluia' except in Lent). Seasonal acclamations for use before the Gospel are provided here and here.

6		Entry
		At the entry of the ministers, a Bible or Book of the Gospels may be carried into the assembly.

7		Greetings
		In addition to the points where greetings are provided, at other suitable points (e.g. before the Gospel and before the Blessing or dismissal), the greeting 'The Lord be with you' with its response 'and also with you' or 'and with thy spirit' may be used.

8		Silence
		Silence is particularly appropriate within the Prayers of Penitence and of Intercession, before the Collect, in response to the reading of the Scriptures, after the Eucharistic Prayer and after the distribution.

9		Notices
		Banns of marriage and other notices may be published before the Gathering (if possible by a minister other than the president), before the Prayers of Intercession or before the Dismissal.

10		The Prayers of Penitence
		This section may be transposed to a later point in the service as a response to the Liturgy of the Word. In the special seasonal rites for certain days it is particularly appropriate at the later point.
		On certain occasions, for a special service, this section may precede the opening hymn and greeting. A Form of Preparation is provided.
		The Invitation to Confession may take the form of the Summary of the Law, the Commandments, the Beatitudes, the Comfortable Words or the Exhortation.
		When the Kyrie eleison is used as a confession, short penitential sentences are inserted between the petitions, suitable for seasons or themes. This form of confession should not be the norm on Sundays.
		Authorized alternative forms of confession and absolution may be used in place of those in the main text.

11		The Gloria in Excelsis
		This canticle may be omitted during Advent and Lent, and on weekdays which are not Principal Holy Days or Festivals. See also Note 3.

12		The Readings
		The readings at Holy Communion are governed by authorized lectionary provision and are not a matter for local decision except where that provision permits.
		Whenever possible, all three readings are used at Holy Communion on Sundays. When only two are read, the minister should ensure that, in any year, a balance is maintained between readings from the Old and New Testaments in the choice of the first reading. The psalm provided relates to the first reading in the lectionary. Where possible it should be used after that reading.
		When announcing the Gospel, if it is desired to give book, chapter and verse or page number, the reader may do this informally before saying 'Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to N.'

13		The Sermon
		The sermon is an integral part of the Liturgy of the Word. A sermon should normally be preached at all celebrations on Sundays and Principal Holy Days.
		The sermon may on occasion include less formal exposition of Scripture, the use of drama, interviews, discussion and audio-visual aids.

14		The Creed
		The Creed may be preceded by the president saying 'Let us declare our faith in God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.'

15		The Prayers of Intercession
		Intercession frequently arises out of thanksgiving; nevertheless these prayers are primarily prayers of intercession. They are normally broadly based, expressing a concern for the whole of God's world and the ministry of the whole Church.
		Several forms of intercession are provided; other suitable forms may be used. They need not always conform to the sequence indicated.
		Prayer for the nation is properly focused in prayer for the sovereign by name, and prayer for the Church in prayer for the bishop of the diocese by name.
		The Supplementary Texts provide a number of Collects and other endings to conclude intercession. In some circumstances it may be appropriate for the president to say both the opening invitation and these concluding words.

16		The Peace
		The Peace follows naturally from the Prayers of Intercession and begins the Liturgy of the Sacrament. But this section may be transposed to be the opening greeting or may be used later in the service, as part of either the breaking of bread or the Dismissal. Introductions can be found in the Supplementary Texts.

17		The Taking
		In Holy Communion the Church, following the example of the Lord, takes, gives thanks, breaks and gives. The bread and wine must be taken into the president's hands and replaced upon the table either after the table has been prepared or during the Eucharistic Prayer.

18		The Eucharistic Prefaces and Optional Acclamations
		Short Prefaces may be inserted in Eucharistic Prayers A, B and C in Order One and in both prayers in Order One in Traditional Language. Texts of these are to be found here.
		When the short Prefaces given here are used with Order Two and Order Two in Contemporary Language the phrase 'through Jesus Christ our Lord' must be inserted.
		Extended Prefaces may be used with Eucharistic Prayers A, B and E for Order One (here and here). When an extended Preface is used it replaces the entire text between the opening dialogue and the text of the Sanctus. It will be noted that in Prayer E the short text provided must be used if no extended Preface is used.
		There are optional acclamations suggested for use in Prayers A and F. Those provided for Prayer F echo the style of those in the Liturgy of St Basil and might, especially when sung, be led by a deacon or minister other than the president, then repeated by the whole congregation. Other acclamations may be used.

19		The Lord's Prayer
		On any occasion when the text of an alternative service authorized under the provisions of Canon B 2 provides for the Lord's Prayer to be said or sung, it may be used in the form included in The Book of Common Prayer or in either of the two other forms included in services in Common Worship. The text included in Prayers for Various Occasions may be used on suitable occasions.

20		Breaking of the Bread
		Sufficient bread for the whole congregation to share may be broken by the president, if necessary assisted by other ministers, at this point in the service. The Agnus Dei may accompany this action.
		The words provided at the breaking of the bread must be used on Sundays and Principal Holy Days. On other days the bread may be broken in silence or during the Agnus Dei.

21		Non-communicants
		At the distribution, any of those distributing the sacrament, ordained or lay, may pray for any non-communicants who come forward in these or other suitable words: 'May God be with you' or 'May God bless you'.

22		Prayers after Communion
		One or two prayers may be used after communion. If two are used, the first is normally a presidential text, the second a congregational text. If only one is used, either a presidential or congregational text is chosen. The presidential text is normally the authorized Post Communion of the day. The congregational text is normally one of those printed in the main text or one of those in the supplementary texts.

23		A Service without Communion
		When there is no communion, the minister leads the service as far as the Prayers of Intercession or the Peace, and then adds the Lord's Prayer, the General Thanksgiving, and/or other prayers, ending with the Grace.

		The following notes apply to Order Two only

		Frequently used additions to the text of The Book of Common Prayer are included in Order Two but are denoted by a grey bar in the left hand margin.

24		Posture
		It is appropriate for the people to kneel for the opening prayer and Commandments, the Prayers of Intercession, the Confession, Absolution and Comfortable Words, the Prayer of Consecration and prayers after the distribution.

25		Supplementary Material
		Supplementary Texts may be used with Order Two when they are compatible with that Order. The third form of intercession in the Supplementary Texts may be used in place of the form printed.

26		The Sermon
		At the discretion of the priest, the sermon may precede the Creed.

27		Alternative Order
		Where customary, the Prayer of Humble Access may precede 'Lift up your hearts'; 'Amen' may be omitted at the end of the Prayer of Consecration, and the Prayer of Oblation follow immediately; the Lord's Prayer may follow the Prayer of Oblation; the versicle 'The peace of the Lord be always with you' with the response 'And with thy spirit' may follow the Lord's Prayer and precede the Agnus Dei. In Order Two, but not in Order Two in Contemporary Language, the breaking of the bread may be deferred until the Agnus Dei.

28		Proper Prefaces
		The short Proper Prefaces in the Seasonal Provisions may be used with Order Two. In such case the priest inserts the words 'through Jesus Christ our Lord' after 'almighty, everlasting God'. The texts of the Proper Prefaces from The Book of Common Prayer for use with Order Two are given here.

29		The Gloria in Excelsis
		If the Gloria in excelsis is not to be used on every occasion, it is appropriately omitted on Sundays in Advent and Lent and on all weekdays that are not Principal Holy Days or Festivals.

© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2000-2004
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